Sheetla Mata is considered the goddess of curing diseases of different types, such as smallpox, chicken pox, or other heat-related ailments. The word ‘Sheetla’ means cooling, which means eliminating the effect of illness if anyone is suffering from it. Goddess Sheetla is believed to be a sacred deity who protects her devotees from diseases and provides a healthy life filled with bliss.
The devotees who worship her and sing her hymns also keep her fast when Sheetla Saptami comes. This year, you can keep Sheetla Mata vrat on Sheetla Saptami, which will fall on the 21st of March 2025.
To learn more about Sheetla Saptami, let’s dive deep into who Goddess Sheetla actually is and what the connection is between fasting and health.
Who is Sheetla Devi?
Sheetla Devi is a Hindu goddess who is well-known for her power of healing and cooling down diseases. She is depicted as riding a donkey, carrying a broom and a pot of cool water. Her worship is generally done on the festival of Sheetla Saptami or Basoda, which falls on Holi.
Observing Sheetla Devi Fast
Keeping the Sheetla Mata Vrat has many benefits: having health benefits at the peak! So, let’s take a look at what transformations you can experience fasting for Mata Sheetla.
1.Strengthen Immunity
When you keep Sheetla devi vrat, it helps strengthen your immunity, protecting you from diseases. A better immune system helps in cellular repair and reduces oxidative stress.
Keeping the vrat, people consume cooling foods, which help bolster the body’s natural defense against diseases.
2. Mental & Emotional Well-being
It’s not only physically that your health will be improved, but you will also experience a positive change in your mental and emotional health.
Devotees chant prayers, sing bhajans and meditate on Sheetla Mata, which helps them achieve peace of mind and lower down stress.
3. Spiritual Enlightenment
Observing the vrat pleases Sheetla Mata and blesses the devotees with health, prosperity and protection from anything evil. The vrat is an opportunity to enlighten oneself in spirituality and helps in forming a deeper connection with the divine.
4. Correct Body Doshas
The Sheetla Mata Vrat also helps settle the body doshas as it has connection with the Ayurvedic system of medicine. Sheetla Mata, the cooling goddess, helps pacify the excess heat in the body called Pitta, which means excess dryness, thirst and overheating in the body.
5. Blessing Of Children
Sheetla Mata is considered the protector of children. It is considered that if a couple is looking to have a child, they should keep this fast. Also, parents can observe the Sheetla Mata Vrat for the health and well-being of their children, especially to protect their children from different childhood diseases.
6. Prevention of Seasonal Diseases
Sheetla Saptami comes during the transition of winter to summer. At that time, people usually get heat-related diseases or illnesses. Observing the Sheetla Mata Vrat protects the people from seasonal diseases and helps in smooth adaptation into hotter months.
Rituals Of Sheetla Mata Vrat
- People start the vrat by cleaning the house a day before vrat. This is done to invite positivity into the home.
- On the day of Sheetla Saptami, by waking up early in the morning, a ritual bath is taken, adding the neem leaves or turmeric to the water, which is meant for purifying and healing the body.
- People abstain from food and water completely on this day and consume only cold, stale food such as roti, rice, dal, vegetables, curd or buttermilk.
- The fast connects you to the cooling nature of Sheetla Mata and helps you get rid of heat-related diseases.
- While worshipping, neem leaves, turmeric, and sandalwood paste are used. A diya is to invoke the goddess's blessings.
- It’s also believed that wearing Rudraksha Crystal Mala while worshipping is also beneficial, as it helps heighten your spiritual energy.
- Bhajans and mantras are chanted in Sheetla Mata’s praise and her kindness.
- Sheetla Mata Katha is also read that narrates her origin, powers and significance. The Katha helps in curing diseases and protects the devotees from various ailments.
- People visit Sheetla Mata temple this day, perform arti, offer bhog and also indulge in collective prayers.
The fast is broken after performing the puja and offering bhog to Sheetla Devi. Devotees then consume the Prasad as a symbol of the goddess's blessings.
In Conclusion
So, get indulged in the sacred energy of Sheetla Mata and get healed from diseases that snatch your will to live. Maa Sheetla will bless you with immense happiness and healthy life, which will be worth living for.
